If you don’t have the resources to expand your cafeteria, you’ll be surprised to find out that there are quicker and more cost effective ways to add top-selling items to your revenue source. While many hospitals are modernizing their cafeterias to resonate with today’s dining demands, some are overlooking other creative ways to upgrade food quality and increase sales.

As healthier eating habits are impacting sales in traditional hospital retail cafeterias, foodservice operators have numerous opportunities to maximize sales and employee satisfaction without investing in expensive infrastructure and remodeling projects.

Mobile Kiosks

If you already haven’t, consider mobile kiosks as your second profitable revenue source after cafeteria. The great benefits of mobile kiosks include affordability, mobility and the flexibility to offer quality items that are competitive to the next door salad and sandwich place or coffee shop. In-house made exotic flavors are easy to offer with a kiosk. Sandwiches and salads can be packaged and sold at remote locations throughout the facility and generate significant revenue. The mobile kiosk will attract employees and visitors for a quick delicious and healthy lunch offerings and reduce the cafeteria line during busy service hours. With little upfront cost, a kiosk gives the opportunity to generate thousands of dollars each month that can be used for other foodservice needs.

“The kiosk generates quite a bit of revenue. Keeping staff on-site protects the revenue stream and enhances productivity. Mobile vending solutions allow the flexibility to offer sandwiches, snacks, and beverages. With a 24/7 operation and 300 beds, foodservice needs to be where the demand is and mobile vending is the way to offer healthy menu items at affordable pricem,” says Pamela Kelber, the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition at Flagner Hospital in St. Augustine, FL

5 Must-Have Kiosk Ideas

1. Drinks – Protein Shakes, Coconut Water, Antioxidant drinks
2. Small Bites – Hummus, Tzatziki, Fruit, Yogurt, Granola and Protein Bars
3. Snack Boxes – Olives, Dried Fruits, Cheeses, Crackers
4. Salads – Pomegranate Salad, Quinoa Salad, Mediterranean Salad, Asian Fusion Salads
5. Sandwiches and Wraps- Vegetarian, Chicken, Chinese Chicken, Mediterranean, Spicy Thai

Always consider employees and visitors with allergies and offer few options such as gluten-free and lactose-free to increase your audience.

Foodservice operators have the power to influence the food quality served to employees and visitors. In some ways they are responsible for making sure that the food inside the hospital is consistent with the demands outside the hospital walls. If the resource is not in place to completely change the cafeteria, there are ways to make a difference in your facility’s foodservice culture while generating a significant amount of revenue.

For information about the solutions available to improve your foodservice program, contact your local Cambro Healthcare Representative.